Los Angeles Children’s Museum Gets $10-Million Gift

The Children's Museum of Los Angeles plans to announce a $10-million gift from an anonymous donor to partially fund exhibits and operational costs for a new museum under construction in Lake View Terrace. This is the largest single gift to the museum.

Full-text article by Francisco Vara-Orta is available via the LA Times.com, 10.30.07.

The Joys and Dilemmas of Wealth

The Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy is launching a study, The Joys and Dilemmas of Wealth. The objective of the study is to uncover the attitudes, practices and personal philosophies of ultra high net worth households regarding wealth and philanthropy. The study will focus exclusively on households with at least $25 million in net worth, with a considerable portion of those respondents above $100 million.

More information is available via CNNMoney.com, 10.30.07.

University of Cincinnati Receives $20 Million Gift For Space Exploration

The University of Cincinnati received an anonymous $20 million dollar gift to further research of the "final frontier – our universe."

Just last week, the university received sophisticated design and engineering software valued at $420 million.

That grant came from PACE – Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education.

Full-text article by Tom McKee available via WCPO.com, 10.26.07.

The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy's Report on Giving

Grateful patients and other U.S. donors increased their charitable contributions to health care facilities and organizations in 2006, but the 11.5 percent increase to $7.9 billion was substantially lower than the 16 percent rate of increase to $7 billion reached in 2005, according to a new “Report on Giving” issued today by The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP).

Related article, "Donations to Hospitals Grew 8.3 Percent" by Debra E. Blum via The Chroncile of Philanthropy, 11.1.07.

Modest Gains in Giving: Donations to large charities rose 4.3% in 2006

The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual Philanthropy 400 survey indicates that donations to chartities increased by 4.3 percent to $67.5-billion in 2006.

Full-text article by Noelle Barton and Elizabeth Schwinn available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 11.1.07. [Subscription required.]

How Values Embraced by a Company May Enhance That Company's Value

The recent California wildfires made Herb Greenberg of MarketWatch wonder if companies that do the right thing make better investments than those that do not practice charitable giving?

Full-text article by Herb Greenberg available via MarketWatch, 10.28.07.

More information about the relationship between charitable giving and corporate success is available via the articles listed below.
"Corporate Giving Spurs Sales Growth, Study Finds," by Ian Wilhem via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2.8.07. [Subscription required.]

The 34-page report "Is Doing Good Good for You? Yes, Charitable Contributions Enhance Revenue Growth" is available free online.

The Conference Board's 55-page report, "The 2006 Corporate Contributions Report," may be ordered from the organization's website. The cost is $425 for nonmembers and $125 for members. The report's reference number is R-1399-06-RR.

$85-Million to Wisconsin School of Business at UW-Madison

A small group of alumni gave $85-million, the largest gift ever to UW-Madison, to the Wisconsin School of Business as part of a non-naming naming gift.

The non-naming naming gift means that for the next 20 years, the Wisconsin School of Business will not be named for a donor or entity.

Full-text article by Heather LaRoi available via the Wisconsin State Journal, 10.27.07.

$50-Million Donated to Texas Children's Hospital

Dan Duncan, founder of a Houston energy-services company, and his wife, Jan, donated $50-million to Texas Children's Hospital. The gift will be used to launch a collaborative institute to study and treat pediatric neurological disorders.

For more information about the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital visit www.NRI.texaschildrens.org.

Judge Rules in the Case of Donor vs. Princeton

A New Jersey Superior Court judge released seven decisions in regards to the Robertson Foundation vs. Princeton University. The case will go to trial.

Full-text article by Erin Strout available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 10.26.07. [Subscription required].

Bucknell University Reaches Out and Text Messages Alumni

Bucknell University rolled out a new service this month that pushes cellphone text messages to its 47,000 alumni.

Full-text article by Andrea L. Foster available via The Chronicle of Higher Educaction, 10.25.07. [Subscription required.]

Wealth Research

Barclays Wealth Insights is a quarterly report that has been developed by Barclays Wealth in co-operation with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) with the aim of providing a definitive picture of what being wealthy means in the 21st century.

Research reports currently available for download include:

The Future of Wealth: 2006 - 2016

A Question of Gender

Risk, Return, Reward

University of St. Thomas Launches Campaign

A $60 million gift, the largest single contribution to a college or university in Minnesota, from Lee and Penny Anderson has helped the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN) launch a $500 million capital campaign.

Full-text press release available via the University of St. Thomas, 10.24.07.

Opening Doors capital campaign website.

Minnesota Residents Show High Trust in Charities

Minnesotans have a higher level of trust for nonprofit organizations than the rest of the country according to a study conducted by the Charities Review Council.

The study compiled responses from more than 600 Minnesotans to determine their trust of nonprofit and for-profit institutions.

Ninety-four percent of respondents said they give time or money to charity. Eighty-three percent of respondents said they trust the organizations to which they donate.

Charities Review Council, 10.2007.

Iowa State's $800M Fund Drive

Iowa State University launched a $800M fundraising campaign, the largest ever for ISU.

Full-text by Erin Jordan via DesMoines Register, 10.19.07.

Virginia Tech Kicks Off Capital Campaign

Virginia Tech launched a $1B capital campaign effort. At present more than half of the money has been raised. The funds will go towards scholarships, professorships, and new buildings.

Full-text article via WDBJ7.com, 10.21.07.

Slate's Philanthropy Issue

In the October 19 issue of Slate, a series of articles focus on philanthropy.

"The Rockefellers and the Angry Commoners: A century ago, the super-rich had to contend with class warfare," by Beverly Gage.

"Great Expectations: Why big donors back Teach for America," by Lincoln Caplan.

"Fantasy Philanthropy Baseball: Compete for Capital," by Doug Smith.

"Virtue for Sale: Will customers pay more to do good?" by Ray Fisman.

Fantasy Philanthropy League

In an effort to improve the nonprofit capital market, instituting a fantasy philanthropy league might be just the ticket to establish metrics,raise more money...and doesn't have to be a fantasy.

Full-text article by Douglas K. Smith via Slate, 10.19.07.

Athletics and Fundraising

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently published a series of articles relating to athletics and fundraising.[Subscription required.]

Oregon Debates Role of Big Sports Donors by Paul Fain.

As Athletics Donations Go Up, Some Leaders Fret Over Booster Interference by Brad Wolverton.

An interview with Billy Joe (Red) McCombs about athletics giving.

For Small Programs, Fundraising Can Be a Ticket to the Big Game by Brad Wolverton.

Conversations With Boosters (an audio slideshow)

University of Pennsylvania Announces $3.5B Campaign

The University of Pennsylvania launched one of the largest campaigns in higher education with a five-year goal to raise $3.5B.

Full-text article by Paul Basken via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 10.22.07. [Subscription required].

Web 2.0 and Social Networking

Facebook has 41 million users and growing. In Ellen McGirt's article on the "it" company in November's issue of Fast Company, CEO Mark Zuckerberg discusses what is next for the social networking company.

In the 19 October issue of The New York Times, Natasha Lomas comments on the life cycle of the social networking sites and the recent Web 2.0 conference.

University of Cincinnati Receives $420M Donation

Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education has donated $420M in computer software and hardware to the University of Cincinnati.

Full-text AP article via The Columbus Dispatch, 10.18.07.

Corporate Giving in Numbers

"Giving in Numbers" is a comprehensive analysis of the trends in corporate philanthropy based on data from 136 companies. Published by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

Boston University to Spend $1.8B on Faculty Hiring and Salary Increases

Boston University recently launched a 10-year stategic plan to raise the university's academic profile. The $1.8-billion plan is intended to improve undergraduate education and attract top-tier students and faculty.

Full-text article by Paula Wasley is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education. [Subscription required.]

Aging Alumni at Black Schools

Black colleges are expanding their fundraising efforts to tap into the network of aging alumni, according to administrators at historically black schools.

Full-text article by Eun Kyung Kim available via U.S.A. Today, 10.17.07.

Corporate Community Investment

Corporate philanthropic investment into communities makes sense for the good of the community and for the business's bottom line.

Full-text article by Carolyn Berkowitz available via OnPhilanthropy.com, 10.17.07.

Address Verification Databases

Perhaps helpful tools for prospect research.

MelissaData Address Verification You can verify any U.S. address and get information on the county, time zone, house of representative member, latitude, longitude, income, home prices and more. Canadian information is available and includes direct links to Google and Yahoo! maps.

Zip code demographics are available via MelissaData.

A list of all MelissaData free look-ups available here.

FedEx Address Checker will verify addresses. Enter as much information as possible. The database is available for U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Federated States of Mirconesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, U.S. Virgin Islands.

U.S. Postal Service Zip Code Lookup. You can search by address, zip code, company.

Family Foundations

As family foundations work to create positive impact, they wrestle with challenges and opportunities unique to their type, such as transitioning from one generation of family leadership to another, staying in touch with geographically dispersed family members, allowing for family dynamics and interests, and recruiting leadership from outside the family.

Full-text article by Vicki Itzkowitz via the Minnesota Council on Foundations, October 2007.

Cause Marketing and Corporate Sponsorship

The first major cause marketing campaign was by the American Express Company in 1983 when the company announced it would contribute money to restoring Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty based on how much its customers charged.

Since 1983 there have been many cause marketing campaigns: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, (PRODUCT) RED Campaign, Newman's Own, Build-A-Bear Workshop and World Wildlife Fund, etc.

In this article, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is analyzed as to the effectiveness of the cause marketing campaign and the organization's philanthropic success.

Full-text article by the Associated Press via MSNBC.com, 10.15.07.

T. Boone Pickens and Oklahoma State

In the world of college-athletic giving, T. Boone Pickens has set the fund-raising bar.

The 79-year-old Texas-based oil and gas magnate has contributed more than $250 million to athletics at Oklahoma State, from which he graduated with a geology degree in 1951, and tens of millions more to the overall university.

In January 2006, he made the largest single gift in college sports history - $165 million - to be used to upgrade the football stadium and construct a massive athletic village just north of there.

In doing so, Pickens has made Oklahoma State the poster child for successful sports fund-raising. Buoyed by its example, colleges and universities across the United States have intensified their own efforts, with an eye toward the kind of creative - and sometimes risky - financial ideas he has helped inject into the process.

Full-text article by Frank Fitzpartick via The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10.15.07.

Corporate Giving

Corporate giving, historical and current, is analysed as well as an in-depth look at the following companies: Alcon, Exxon Mobil, HealthMarkets, The Home Depot, Justin Brands, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Pier 1 Imports, Target Corp., Wal-Mart, XTO Energy.

Full-text article by Maria M. Perotin available via The Star-Telegram, 10.15.07.

University of Oregon Receives Bequest of $74.5M

Lorry Lokey, retired founder of the Buisness Wire media relations company, became the largest donor to academics in University of Oregon history with a bequest of $74.5M. It is the second-largest gift to the university after the $100M contribution to atheltics from Phil and Penny Knight.

Full-text article by Greg Bolt via The Register-Guard, 10.17.07.

Cornell College Campaign Gets $20M Boost

Cornell College has received two separate gifts totaling $20 million, part of a $92 million fund-raising campaign, college officials announced today.

The gifts are from two alumni. Richard Small of Tulsa, Okla., committed $15.1 million, while John Smith, president and CEO of Cedar Rapids-based CRST International committed $5 million.

The campaign, ``Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College'' launched Saturday, October 13.

Full-text article by Diane Heldt available via The Gazette, 10.12.07.

Achieving Diversity at Nonprofit Organizations

The Chronicle of Philanthropy issued a special report on diversity at nonprofit organizations. The following articles are included in the report:

Image vs. Reality: The nonprofit world's ideal of inclusion is still a dream for many organizations by Heather Joslyn;

Inching to the Top: Nonprofit managers who are minorities search for a quicker way up the ladder by Michael Anft;

Grants for Growth: Foundations are undertaking efforts to make the nonprofit world's leadership more diverse by Caroline Preston;

Leading the Way: Diversity officers seek to move their organizations toward an inclusive featureby Sandy Asirvatham.

For more information, please visit The Chronicle of Philanthropy. [Subscription required].

Banks Advise Wealthy -- On Giving Cash Away

During the Reuters Wealth Management Summit in Geneva, conversation among attendees from the world's leading banks was focused on philanthropy.

In response to the recent charitable boom, the world's leading banks are competing to help their wealthiest clients give their money away.

Citibank, UBS, Merrill Lynch have expanded their philanthropic offerings to meet the growing interest from America and Europe, inspired by the Gates, Buffet, et al. mega-gifts.

For more information about summit and wealth management initiatives, visit Reuters, 10.9.07.

Princeton University Issues Statement to Senate

Princeton University has submitted a written "statement for the record" to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee describing how it uses its endowment to support financial aid.

The statement is available via the Princeton University website.

Bush Foundation Names New President

Peter C. Hutchinson will succeed Anita M. Pampusch as the president of the organization.

Mr. Hutchinson has served as a vice president for the Dayton Hudson Foundation, commissioner of finance for Minnesota, deputy mayor of Minneapolis, and superintendent of the Minneapolis school district. He also co-founded Public Strategies Group, a company that helps governments redesign themselves.

With foundation assets of $900M, $40M in grants is distributed to organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

More information available via the Bush Foundation website.

MIT Receives $100M Gift

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has received a $100 million gift from David Koch, U.S. Industrialist, to create a compreshensive cancer center.

The David Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research will open in 2010.

Full-text article available via the United Press International, 10.9.2007.

Grants Made to Advance Giving Among Emerging Donor Communities

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has announced the inaugural grantees of the Cultures of Giving Fund, an innovative initiative created by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to empower emerging donor communities – notably the African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American and underserved immigrant communities – to lead, develop and grow philanthropic resources that address community causes.

More information about the Cultures of Giving Fund is available via Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and PNNOnline, 10.8.07.

Erie Community Foundation Receives $100M Gift

The Erie Community Foundation has received a $100M gift that the donor designated to benefit 46 local and 5 out of town nonprofit organizations. This is the largest anonymous contribution to a community foundation in the nation.

For more information,please visit , 10.9.07.The Erie Foundation website

Middlebury College Launches $500M Campaign

Middlebury College will launch a five-year campaign to raise $500 million - the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by a liberal arts college, according to college president Ronald Liebowitz.

Full-text article available via The Burlington Free Press, 10.8.07.

Michigan State University Completes Capital Campaign

Michigan State University has closed out its five-year public capital campaign at or above almost all of its fundraising goals earlier this month, raising a total of $1.4 billion, MSU President Lou Anna Simon announced Thursday.

Full-text article by Chad Halcom availalbe via Crain's Detroit Business, 10.4.07.

Resource Recommendations for Prospect Research

Directorship magazine has compiled a list of the 100 most influential players in corporate governance. The list includes brief biographies of directors, officers, professors, writers, lawyers, networkers, etc.

Full-text article by the editors of Directorship available here, 9.2007.


Treasury & Risk magazine has compiled the 2007 list of the 100 most influential people in finance.

Complete list available via Treasury & Risk, 6.2007.

How the Rich Hide Their Wealth

Scott Mayerwitz, ABC News Business Unit, investigates the ways in which wealthy individuals hide their assets.

Full-text article available via ABC News, 9.21.07.

Updates on Billion-Dollar Campaigns at 26 Universities

The Chronicle of Higher Education outlines 26 American universities in billion dollar capital campaigns.

Article by Jason M. Breslow via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 10.3.07. [Subscription required.]

University of Florida Capital Campaign

The University of Florida has begun the public phase of its newest capital campaign and set the goal at $1.5-billion. Florida becomes the 27th college or university now in a campaign to raise at least $1-billion. Twelve of them are public institutions. Florida has already raised more than $500-million toward the goal.

Full-text (above) posted by Martin VanDerWerf via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 10.1.07.

Fundraising at George Washington University

As George Washington University embarks on some of the most expensive building projects in its history, it is increasingly reliant on tuition dollars to fund that expansion - something University President Steven Knapp said he would like to alleviate.

The primary reason for this dependance, administrators said, is a lack of fundraising to support the school's rapid growth. Until 2010, it is estimated that 90 percent of total revenue will come from students - through tuition, housing and other fees, according to the capital budget. This number has grown in the past decade.

Full-text article by Michael Boyd available via gwhatchet.com, 10.1.07.

Degree Requirements in Fund-Raising

University officials provide seven basic rules when it comes to high-stakes fund-raising.

Full-text article by Charles Wilson available via The New York Times, 9.30.07.

University of Evansville's Capital Campaign

After a three-year silent phase, the University of Evansville launched the largest capital campaign attempted in the Tri-State.

U•Envision 2010 is an $80 million, five-year campaign that almost doubles the amount set for 1999’s campaign, Widening the Circle.

It will increase endowment to more than $100 million, raise scholarship and faculty salary funds and support upgrades to campus buildings—including the University Center, Schroeder School of Business and Hyde Hall.

President Stephen Jennings said at least $40 million has been raised already.

Full-text article by Natalie Stigall, University of Evansville - Crescentonline.com, 9.28.07.

Forces for Good

Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant have spent three years the practices that characterize high-performing nonprofit organizations.

The authors lay out their findings in Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (John Wiley & Sons), which goes on sale in October.

Ms. Crutchfield is a managing director at Ashoka, a nonprofit organization that supports social entrepreneurship, and a consultant to foundations and charities. Ms. Grant is a consultant to nonprofit groups and a senior adviser to Stanford University's Center for Social Innovation.

Full-text article by Ben Gose available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 10.4.07. [Subscription required.]

Managing nonprofits: Doing good takes some doing

Only six percent of MBA students plan to enter the nonprofit world after graduation. Nonprofits need talented leaders who can manage donor dollars as well as if they were shareholder investments in the profit world.

The nonprofit sector will need 640,000 new senior managers in the next decade to fill positions created by the sector's growth, as well as vacancies left by retiring baby boomers, according to the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit consultancy.

Full-text article by Michael D. Kerlin available via Newsday.com, 10.1.07.

Donors Gone, Trusts Veer From Their Wishes

Orphan trusts and foundations exist. At the request of The New York Times, the Foundation Center identified 3,935 foundations that reported a financial institution as their sole trustee, out of a total of more than 77,000 foundations in its database. Those foundations control $5.4 billion in assets, and gave away $256.1 million in 2005.

This article discusses what happens to donor intent and giving responsibilities when orphan trusts are managed by multinational financial institutions.

Full-text article by Stephanie Strom is available via The New York Times, 9.29.07.